EP0526144B1 - Cassette recorders - Google Patents
Cassette recorders Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0526144B1 EP0526144B1 EP92306836A EP92306836A EP0526144B1 EP 0526144 B1 EP0526144 B1 EP 0526144B1 EP 92306836 A EP92306836 A EP 92306836A EP 92306836 A EP92306836 A EP 92306836A EP 0526144 B1 EP0526144 B1 EP 0526144B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cassette
- carrier
- spring
- loaded
- tape
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
- G11B15/18—Driving; Starting; Stopping; Arrangements for control or regulation thereof
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
- G11B15/02—Control of operating function, e.g. switching from recording to reproducing
- G11B15/10—Manually-operated control; Solenoid-operated control
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
- G11B15/60—Guiding record carrier
- G11B15/66—Threading; Loading; Automatic self-loading
- G11B15/665—Threading; Loading; Automatic self-loading by extracting loop of record carrier from container
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- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
- G11B15/675—Guiding containers, e.g. loading, ejecting cassettes
Definitions
- This invention relates to cassette recorders and particularly to cassette recorders which utilise a magnetic tape contained in a cassette.
- Industrial cassette recorders utilise a magnetic tape contained in a cassette similar to that used in domestic systems but containing a greater length of tape and of a greater width, and wound between a supply spool and a take-up spool.
- the cassette is located on a deck plate either manually if sufficient vertical space is available above the recorder or by an electrically powered elevator means adapted to accept a cassette inserted horizontally into the recorder and to move it vertically both on to and from the tape deck.
- the tape deck includes electrically powered spool drive means, electrically powered means for engaging a pinch roller and electrically powered loading means for withdrawing tape from the cassette and presenting it to a recording head device.
- EP-A-0311922 discloses a cassette recorder which has a sprung cassette loading device which is adapted to return the cassette to a position from where it may be removed, in the event of a loss of power.
- a main objective of this invention is to provide a cassette recorder of the aforementioned type from which a cassette can be removed without damage to the tape in the event of a loss of power. Further objectives are to provide in the event of a loss of power, means to return the loading means to an unloaded position, means to take up slack tape caused during the return of the loading means and means to disengage the pinch roller. A yet further objective is to achieve the aforementioned objectives in a manner such that the cassette recorder reconfigures automatically to operate normally when electrical power is restored. In cassette recorders having an elevator means a yet further objective of the invention is to provide in the event of a loss of power means to operate the elevator means and lift the cassette to a position adjacent a removal aperture and ejection means for ejecting the cassette through the aperture.
- this invention provides a cassette recorder including electrically powered loading means movable between an unloaded position and a loaded position to withdraw tape from a cassette and present the tape in operational relationship to a recording head, characterised by a gear train driven by an electric motor for normally moving the loading means between said loaded and unloaded positions, and a spring means operatively associated with a gear of said gear train so as to be loaded automatically during movement of the loading means to the loaded position whereby said means operates in the event of a loss of electrical power to return the loading means to the unloaded position.
- the spring means is a tension spring anchored at one end and attached to a cable wound round the circumference of a drum attached concentrically to said gear.
- Torque varying means may be provided for varying the torque applied by the tension spring during movement of the loading means to the unloaded position by the spring, and said means may comprise means for increasing the operational radius of the cable on the drum at an appropriate location around the circumference of the drum.
- the cassette recorder may include a pinch roller mounted for pivotal movement between an engaged position in which it biases the tape into contact with a capstan and a disengaged position, spring means biasing the pinch roller to the disengaged position, an offset roller on an electrically rotatable disc for moving the pinch roller to the engaged position, a cable wound around the circumference of the disc and attached to the loading means whereby in the event of an electrical power failure movement of the loading means to the unloaded position acts through the cable to rotate the disc and attached offset roller and permit movement of the pinch roller to the disengaged position.
- the cassette recorder may include a rotatable recording head device driven by an electric motor, and electric motors for driving a supply spool and take-up spool respectively, a changeover relay in the electrical supply to the recording head motor and held normally energised by the electrical power supply, the relay release contacts being wired so as to connect the recording head motor to the spool motors whereby in the event of a power failure the inertia of the recording head drives the recording head motor to generate electricity and rotate the spool motors to take up slack tape as the loading means moves to its unloaded position.
- the cassette may be located in a cassette carrier on manually operable elevator means adapted to move the carrier vertically from an upper position at which the cassette is inserted into the carrier and a lower position, lock means for locking the carrier at the lower position, release means for manually releasing the lock means and spring means compressed automatically on lowering the carrier so as to return the carrier to its upper position when the lock means is released.
- the cassette carrier includes location means adapted to prevent incorrect insertion of the cassette and ejection means to selectively eject the cassette from the carrier.
- a cassette recorder generally indicated at 21 includes a generally box shaped casing 22.
- a door 23 pivotally mounted on one end of the casing 22 provides access to a "letter box” slot 24 through which a cassette 25 is inserted and removed as indicated by arrow 26.
- the cassette 25 is of a known type having a tape supply spool and a tape take-up spool (not shown) with a magnetic recording tape wound between the spools. Access to the spools is via apertures in the lower surface of the cassette 25 (not shown) and it will be noted that cassette 25 has a planar upper surface and a chamfer 27 at both rear corners.
- An operating lever 28 is pivotally mounted at an edge of the end of the casing 22 containing slot 24 and a release lever 29 is located below operating lever 28.
- the operating lever 28 and release lever 29 are operatively associated with an elevator means (not shown) which is fully described and illustrated hereinafter.
- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective of part of the cassette recorder 21 with the case 22 removed.
- the cassette 25 On insertion of the cassette 25 through slot 24 ( Figure 1) the cassette is automatically entered into a cassette carrier 30 forming part of a cassette elevator means 31 to be described more fully hereinafter.
- Cassette carrier 30 comprises a spine portion 32 and two spaced apart plates 33 straddling the cassette 25.
- Location means generally indicated at 34 ( Figure 3) and mounted in the spine 32 ensures that the cassette 25 is only accepted by the carrier 30 when it is correctly oriented, and includes manually operable release means.
- location means 34 includes an eject lever 35 pivotally mounted at one end of the carrier 30 and carrying a roller 36 at an inner end for engagement by an end face of cassette 25.
- Eject lever 35 is shown in a cassette loaded position in Figure 4 and is loaded by spring means 37 towards a cassette eject position shown in dotted line in Figure 5.
- Eject lever 35 includes an inwardly extending contact surface 38 which, in the unloaded condition ( Figure 5) is abutted by the end 39 of a spigot 40 ( Figure 3) formed at one end of a lever 41 pivotally mounted at 42 to the spine 32.
- lever 41 carries a pin 43 engaged by a tapered end 44 of a release lever 45 slidably mounted on spine 32 and carrying an external release button 46 at its other end.
- Release lever 45 is biassed by spring 47.
- a boss 48 located adjacent the pivot 42 on lever 41 provides an attachment for one end of a tension spring 49 the other end being attached to a lever 50 fixed to one of a shaft 51 rotationally mounted on upper plate 33 of carrier 30.
- the other of shaft 51 is fixed to one end of a contact shoe 52 located in an aperture 53 and which is pivotable between a position shown in full line in Figure 6 when cassette 25 is loaded and a position shown in broken line when cassette 25 is not loaded.
- An extension 40 a extends inwardly from the end of lever 41 above the spigot 40 to cover an end 50 a of lever 50.
- Ejection of the cassette 25 is achieved by pressing button 46 which causes sliding surface 44 to react on pin 43 and pivot lever 41 to lift spigot 40 out of engagement with edge 54 of surface 38 whereby the cassette 25 is pushed from carrier 30 by eject lever 35 under the influence of the spring 37.
- the location means 34 prevents acceptance by the carrier 30 in the following manner. If it is attempted to load the cassette 25 with a sharp edge at the leading rear corner and either the planar or apertured surface uppermost, an angled barrier 55 ( Figure 5) provided on the carrier 30 prevents the cassette 25 being inserted far enough to pivot eject lever 35 to the position at which spigot 40 moves into engagement with edge 54 of surface 38. On the other hand if it is attempted to load the cassette 25 with the apertured surface uppermost and a chamfered corner at the rear of the leading edge the contact shoe locates in the aperture and therefore remains in the broken line position shown in Figure 5 so that extension 40 a contacts the raised end 50 a of lever 50 and is therefore prevented from dropping into engagement with edge 54.
- the elevator means 31 comprises two bearings 56 located in bosses 57 formed on the spine 32 of cassette carrier 30 for sliding engagement on circular shafts 58 extending vertically from a deck plate 59 mounted inside casing 22 on anti-vibration mounts 59 a .
- the carrier 30 is biassed towards its upper illustrated position by spring means comprising two gas spring devices 60 attached between the carrier 30 and the deck plate 59 adjacent the shafts 58.
- An inner end of an extension 61 of operating lever 28 (see also Figure 1) is attached to one end of the wire 62 of a flexible sheathed wire cable (Bowden cable) generally indicated at 63, the other end of the wire 62 being attached to the deck plate 59.
- the ends of the cable sheath 64 are attached respectively to the case 22 adjacent the end of extension 61 as indicated at 65 and to the cassette carrier 30 as indicated at 66.
- Pivoted door 23 (see also Figure 1) is attached to the extension 61 of lever 28 by a spring loaded rod 67.
- An L-shaped latch 68 is pivotally attached to the deck plate 59 and is biased to a latching position by a spring 68 a for engagment during a certain phase of operation with a pin 69 protruding from the spine 32 of cassette carrier 30.
- the wire 70 of a flexible sheathed wire cable (Bowden cable) is attached between latch 68 and the release lever 29 (see also Figure 1) and the ends of the cable sheath 71 are attached respectively to the case 22 as indicated at 71 a and to the deck plate 59 as indicated at 71 b .
- the elevator 31 is shown with the cassette carrier 30 aligned with slot 24 in a position permitting insertion of a cassette 25.
- operation of the operating lever 28 by pushing it to a position flush with case 22 pushes the cassette carrier 30 and loaded cassette 25 down an operational position on deck plate 59.
- latch 68 engages pin 69 to securely retain the carrier 30.
- door 23 is automatically moved closed through spring loaded rod 67 as the lever 28 is moved to lower the carrier 30 which action also has the effect of charging the gas spring devices 60.
- the release lever 29 is pulled to pivot latch 68 out of engagement with pin 69 to permit the carrier 30 to slide upwardly on guide shafts 58 under the force exerted by the gas spring devices 60.
- the gas spring devices 60 provide automatic damping at the end of the upward movement of carrier 30 to prevent undesirable shock loads adversely affecting the mechanism.
- latch 68 is operatively associated with a final drive gear 101 (shown in broken outline in Figure 7 and hereinafter described in more detail), to ensure that release of latch 68 is possible only when the cassette recorder is in a certain operational condition.
- Raising the cassette carrier 30 acts through sheathed cable 63 to pivot the lever 28 outwardly and further through the rod 67 to automatically open the door 23 to permit removal of cassette 25 from carrier 30 through the slot 24.
- Figure 8 is a plan view of the carrier 30 with cassette 25 located by elevator means 31 on the deck plate 59.
- deck plate 59 includes unillustrated features such as spool drive spindles, motors, tape guide rollers and tensioning devices which are known in the art but form no part of the present invention.
- the drawing shows in broken outline a supply spool 72, a take-up spool 73 and a tape 74 located in the cassette 25 and routed along a path defined by four rollers 75 which are provided in the cassette 25.
- the cassette recorder of the illustrated embodiment uses a rotating head drum comprising a transverse scanner 78 which writes data across the width of the tape 74, and is driven by a concentrically located motor 79. To this end the tape 74 is located automatically across spaced apart guide means 80 and 81 when the carrier 30 is moved on to the deck plate 59. Guide means 80 and 81 are carried on loading means comprising a sliding load plate 82 which moves from an unloaded position upon engagement by the cassette 25 to a loaded position illustrated in Figure 8 in which a portion of the tape 74 a is withdrawn from the cassette 25 towards the rotary head scanner 78.
- a solenoid operated "canoe” guide 83 is located centrally on the load plate 82 and when "record” mode is commanded operates to shape the tape 74 and to wrap it across the surface of the rotary head scanner 78 as illustrated more clearly in Figure 9.
- Load plate 82 is normally driven electrically to both its loaded and unloaded positions by an offset pin 84 operating in a J-slot 85 through a rearwardly extending arm 86 attached to the rear of load plate 82.
- Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the manner of operating the sliding load plate 82.
- pin 84 is offset from the centre of a rotatable plate 87 located on the deck plate 59 (see also Figure 10) for rotation about an axis 88 by an electric motor (not shown).
- Initial counterclockwise rotation of the plate 87 and pin 84 through 90° from the unloaded position of Figure 11 causes no lateral movement of plate 86 and attached load plate 82 but serves to position other devices which do not form part of this invention.
- Rotation through a further 180° between 90° and 270° to the loaded position drives the arm 86 and attached load plate 82 to the left in Figure 12 to the fully loaded position as illustrated in Figure 8.
- Clockwise rotation of the rotatable plate 87 through 270° from the loaded position to the position shown in Figure 11 serves to withdraw the load plate 82 to its unloaded position.
- the pinch roller 76 (see also Figure 8) is rotationally attached at one end of a carrier arm 89 having its other end pivotally attached to deck plate 59 at 90.
- An arm 91 located parallel to the the carrier arm 89 and attached by spring tensioning means 92 is operatively associated with an offset roller 93 carried on a disc 94 rotatable about an axis 95 by an electric motor (not shown) operating through a clutch device (not shown).
- a return spring 96 is attached between the carrier 89 and deck plate 59.
- a major objective of this invention is to provide a cassette recorder of the above described type in which it is possible to remove the cassette 25 in the event of a loss of power without damage to the tape. More specifically, an objective is to provide means to move the load plate 82 to its unloaded position and to move the pinch roller 76 to its disengaged position in the event of a loss of power and in such a manner that normal operation is possible when power is restored. In achieving movement of the load plate 82 to the unloaded position another objective is to take up the slack tape resulting from such movement since the electrically operative spool drive motors also would not be functioning as normal.
- final drive gear 101 completes a reduction gear train comprising an intermediate gear 102 and a drive gear 103 connected to an electric motor 104, all located externally of the deck plate 59.
- Final drive gear 101 carries a concentric drum 105 having a circumferential groove 106 and anchor means (not shown) for anchoring one end of a cable 107 which is wound around the drum 105 in the groove 106.
- Cable 107 is routed around a pulley 108 and is connected to an extension spring 109 anchored to deck plate 59 as illustrated schematically at 110 in Figures 15 and 16.
- the cable 107 is routed over a peg 111 to increase locally the operational radius and for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.
- Figure 15 illustrates the components in a position corresponding to that with the load plate 82 ( Figure 8) in its loaded position and with pin 84 in the position illustrated in Figure 12, this position having been reached by counterclockwise rotation of the final drive gear 101 which has wound cable 107 around the drum 105 to fully extend the spring 109.
- this invention is concerned to tension spring 109 automatically during electrically powered movement of load plate 82 to its loaded position and to apply a holding current to hold both the load plate 82 in the loaded position and the spring 109 in tension.
- the holding current drops to zero and the energy in spring 109 backdrives the system by rotating final drive gear 101 in a clockwise direction as indicated by arrow 127 in Figure 15 thereby rotating pin 84 back to the position shown in Figure 11 to withdraw the load plate 82 to its unloaded position.
- many inter-related and dependent practicalities had to be addressed.
- spring 109 (Figure 15) must have a torque characteristic capable of matching the peak during unload whilst the load torque (generated by the motor 104) will be the sum of the load torque 122 and that required to tension the spring 109.
- a spring generally has a linear load characteristic and in order to cope with the peak during the unload cycle such a spring used as spring 109 without other expedients would need to have the characteristic indicated by the straight broken line 123 in Figure 18, resulting in a very high torque load being applied by the spring 109 at the loaded position of the load plate 82, i.e. the 270° cam position, as illustrated at point 124.
- the peg 111 increases the radius of operation (and therefore the applied torque) through that particular segment of the arc of operation which corresponds to the peak torque load during unload.
- the motor 104 and load plate assembly have substantial inertia that needs to be dissipated at the unloaded position of the load plate 82 when driven to the unloaded position by the spring 109.
- a microswitch (not shown) is attached to the deck plate 59 and is actuated to operate over the initial rotation of the pin 84 (from 0° to 90°). The switch operates to apply a resistive load across the motor 104 with a series diode which opposes current flow when the motor 104 is energised normally to move the load plate 82 to the loaded position.
- the microswitch operates when the 90° position is reached to allow reverse current to flow in the resistive load by virtue of the back emf of the load motor. This dynamically brakes the motor 104 to rest at the unloaded position of the load plate 82.
- the drive motor 79 rotated the rotating head scanner 78 ( Figures 8 and 9) at a normal operating speed of 30,000 rpm and realised, therefore, that the assembly had significant kinetic energy. They reasoned that by operating the motor 79 as a generator in the event of a loss of power, this energy might be sufficient to provide a source of usable electrical power. Tests showed that electrical power could be generated in this way and that it was adequate to operate the spool motors for a period of about five seconds and could therefore be utilised to take up the slack tape provided that the aforementioned spring powered unload of the load plate could also be implemented within that duration.
- relay 115 drops out and its release contacts are connected so as to route the available electrical output from the scanner motor 79, now acting as a generator, directly to the spool drive motors 113 and 114 to operate the motors for sufficient time to take up the slack tape 74 as the load plate 82 is withdrawn to its unloaded position.
- the scanner 78 In order to generate sufficient electrical power for efficient operation it is necessary that the scanner 78 as reached its full operating speed before the load plate 82 is moved to its loaded position.
- the block 117 causes a pulling force on cable 116 which rotates disc 94 counter-clockwise by slipping of the clutch (not shown) back to the position of Figure 13 to allow the pinch roller 76 to be moved to the disengaged position under the influence of the return spring 96.
- inhibit means are provided to prevent operation of the latch 68 ( Figures 7 and 10) until the load plate 82 is withdrawn to the unloaded position. As shown in particular in Figures 10 and 20 this is achieved by the leg 68 b of the L-shape latch 68 being prevented by an external surface of the final drive gear 101 from pivoting to the unlatched position shown in broken line in Figure 20 until a cut-out 101 a in the circumference of the final drive gear 101 moves to the enabling position of Figure 20 when load plate 82 is fully withdrawn to its unloaded position.
- the load plate 82 in the event of a loss of electrical power, the load plate 82 is automatically moved to its unloaded position, the slack tape 74 is taken up by the spool motors and the pinch roller 76 is moved to the disengaged position all as hereinbefore described.
- the release lever 29 ( Figure 7) may be pulled to release latch 68 to permit the elevator means 31 to raise the cassette carrier 30 under the influence of the gas springs 60 to a position aligned with the slot 24 in case 22.
- a push on release knob 46 ( Figures 2 and 3) releases the mechanism 34 and the cassette 25 is pushed out of the carrier 30 by eject lever 35 to protrude through the slot 24 of the case 22 for removal by hand.
- the manual loading and unloading of the cassette 25 relative the deck plate 59 is important for two reasons. Firstly, it clearly facilitates removal of the cassette 25 in the event of an electrical power failure and, secondly, by locating the cassette 25 on to the deck plate 59 immediately it is loaded ensures that it is protected from damage by vibration during phases of operation that recording is not taking place.
- the described cassette carrier 30 and elevator means 31 may be replaced by any suitable means for locating the cassette in its operative position on the deck plate 59 and may be dispensed with altogether in cassette recorders in which space is available to enable manual location of the cassette 25 on the deck plate 59.
- the gas spring devices 60 can be replaced by conventional coil compression springs located on sliding central support pillars and, in such an embodiment, the desirable damping at the end of upward movement of the carrier could be achieved by any suitable damping means such as a piston located at the top of the shafts 58 for location, towards the end of movement, in a cylinder extended upwardly from the bosses 57.
Description
- This invention relates to cassette recorders and particularly to cassette recorders which utilise a magnetic tape contained in a cassette.
- Industrial cassette recorders utilise a magnetic tape contained in a cassette similar to that used in domestic systems but containing a greater length of tape and of a greater width, and wound between a supply spool and a take-up spool. The cassette is located on a deck plate either manually if sufficient vertical space is available above the recorder or by an electrically powered elevator means adapted to accept a cassette inserted horizontally into the recorder and to move it vertically both on to and from the tape deck.
- Typically, the tape deck includes electrically powered spool drive means, electrically powered means for engaging a pinch roller and electrically powered loading means for withdrawing tape from the cassette and presenting it to a recording head device.
- It will be apparent therefore that in the event of a loss of power in such a cassette recorder it may not be possible to remove the cassette.
- EP-A-0311922 discloses a cassette recorder which has a sprung cassette loading device which is adapted to return the cassette to a position from where it may be removed, in the event of a loss of power.
- A main objective of this invention is to provide a cassette recorder of the aforementioned type from which a cassette can be removed without damage to the tape in the event of a loss of power. Further objectives are to provide in the event of a loss of power, means to return the loading means to an unloaded position, means to take up slack tape caused during the return of the loading means and means to disengage the pinch roller. A yet further objective is to achieve the aforementioned objectives in a manner such that the cassette recorder reconfigures automatically to operate normally when electrical power is restored. In cassette recorders having an elevator means a yet further objective of the invention is to provide in the event of a loss of power means to operate the elevator means and lift the cassette to a position adjacent a removal aperture and ejection means for ejecting the cassette through the aperture.
- Accordingly this invention provides a cassette recorder including electrically powered loading means movable between an unloaded position and a loaded position to withdraw tape from a cassette and present the tape in operational relationship to a recording head, characterised by a gear train driven by an electric motor for normally moving the loading means between said loaded and unloaded positions, and a spring means operatively associated with a gear of said gear train so as to be loaded automatically during movement of the loading means to the loaded position whereby said means operates in the event of a loss of electrical power to return the loading means to the unloaded position.
- Preferably the spring means is a tension spring anchored at one end and attached to a cable wound round the circumference of a drum attached concentrically to said gear. Torque varying means may be provided for varying the torque applied by the tension spring during movement of the loading means to the unloaded position by the spring, and said means may comprise means for increasing the operational radius of the cable on the drum at an appropriate location around the circumference of the drum.
- The cassette recorder may include a pinch roller mounted for pivotal movement between an engaged position in which it biases the tape into contact with a capstan and a disengaged position, spring means biasing the pinch roller to the disengaged position, an offset roller on an electrically rotatable disc for moving the pinch roller to the engaged position, a cable wound around the circumference of the disc and attached to the loading means whereby in the event of an electrical power failure movement of the loading means to the unloaded position acts through the cable to rotate the disc and attached offset roller and permit movement of the pinch roller to the disengaged position.
- The cassette recorder may include a rotatable recording head device driven by an electric motor, and electric motors for driving a supply spool and take-up spool respectively, a changeover relay in the electrical supply to the recording head motor and held normally energised by the electrical power supply, the relay release contacts being wired so as to connect the recording head motor to the spool motors whereby in the event of a power failure the inertia of the recording head drives the recording head motor to generate electricity and rotate the spool motors to take up slack tape as the loading means moves to its unloaded position.
- The cassette may be located in a cassette carrier on manually operable elevator means adapted to move the carrier vertically from an upper position at which the cassette is inserted into the carrier and a lower position, lock means for locking the carrier at the lower position, release means for manually releasing the lock means and spring means compressed automatically on lowering the carrier so as to return the carrier to its upper position when the lock means is released.
- Preferably the cassette carrier includes location means adapted to prevent incorrect insertion of the cassette and ejection means to selectively eject the cassette from the carrier.
- The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
- Figure 1 is an external perspective view of a cassette recorder constructed according to this invention,
- Figure 2 is a somewhat schematic perspective of a part of the cassette recorder,
- Figure 3 is a detail view taken on arrow A of Figure 2 of a cassette carrier used in the invention,
- Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of part of the cassette carrier of Figure 3 in one operational condition,
- Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 4 and showing the cassette carrier in another operational condition,
- Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectioned view taken on lines B-B of Figure 4,
- Figure 7 is a fragmentary side view taken also in the direction of arrow A of Figure 2 and illustrating elevator means in more detail,
- Figure 8 is a plan view taken on arrow C of Figure 7,
- Figure 9 is a perspective view showing part of Figure 8 in more detail,
- Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectioned view taken on lines D-D of Figure 8,
- Figures 11 and 12 are fragmentary views of part of the device illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 to show operational features,
- Figures 13 and 14 are fragmentary plan views of part of the device of Figure 8 showing different operating conditions,
- Figure 15 is a view taken on arrow E of Figure 10,
- Figure 16 is a plan view taken on arrow F of Figure 15,
- Figure 17 is a graph showing torque loading effective in different phases of operation,
- Figure 18 is a graph similar to Figure 17,
- Figure 19 is a wiring diagram, and
- Figure 20 is a fragmentary view of part of Figure 7 on an enlarged scale.
- Referring now to Figure 1, a cassette recorder generally indicated at 21 includes a generally box shaped
casing 22. Adoor 23 pivotally mounted on one end of thecasing 22 provides access to a "letter box"slot 24 through which acassette 25 is inserted and removed as indicated byarrow 26. - The
cassette 25 is of a known type having a tape supply spool and a tape take-up spool (not shown) with a magnetic recording tape wound between the spools. Access to the spools is via apertures in the lower surface of the cassette 25 (not shown) and it will be noted thatcassette 25 has a planar upper surface and achamfer 27 at both rear corners. - An
operating lever 28 is pivotally mounted at an edge of the end of thecasing 22 containingslot 24 and arelease lever 29 is located belowoperating lever 28. Theoperating lever 28 andrelease lever 29 are operatively associated with an elevator means (not shown) which is fully described and illustrated hereinafter. - Figure 2 is a schematic perspective of part of the
cassette recorder 21 with thecase 22 removed. On insertion of thecassette 25 through slot 24 (Figure 1) the cassette is automatically entered into acassette carrier 30 forming part of a cassette elevator means 31 to be described more fully hereinafter. -
Cassette carrier 30 comprises aspine portion 32 and two spaced apartplates 33 straddling thecassette 25. Location means generally indicated at 34 (Figure 3) and mounted in thespine 32 ensures that thecassette 25 is only accepted by thecarrier 30 when it is correctly oriented, and includes manually operable release means. - Referring now to Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, location means 34 includes an
eject lever 35 pivotally mounted at one end of thecarrier 30 and carrying aroller 36 at an inner end for engagement by an end face ofcassette 25.Eject lever 35 is shown in a cassette loaded position in Figure 4 and is loaded byspring means 37 towards a cassette eject position shown in dotted line in Figure 5.Eject lever 35 includes an inwardly extendingcontact surface 38 which, in the unloaded condition (Figure 5) is abutted by theend 39 of a spigot 40 (Figure 3) formed at one end of alever 41 pivotally mounted at 42 to thespine 32. - The other end of
lever 41 carries apin 43 engaged by atapered end 44 of a release lever 45 slidably mounted onspine 32 and carrying anexternal release button 46 at its other end. Release lever 45 is biassed byspring 47. - A
boss 48 located adjacent thepivot 42 onlever 41 provides an attachment for one end of atension spring 49 the other end being attached to alever 50 fixed to one of ashaft 51 rotationally mounted onupper plate 33 ofcarrier 30. The other ofshaft 51 is fixed to one end of acontact shoe 52 located in anaperture 53 and which is pivotable between a position shown in full line in Figure 6 whencassette 25 is loaded and a position shown in broken line whencassette 25 is not loaded. Anextension 40a extends inwardly from the end oflever 41 above thespigot 40 to cover anend 50a oflever 50. - Operation of the location means 34 will first be described assuming that
cassette 25 is correctly oriented, namely with the planar surface uppermost and achamfered edge 27 located at the leading rear corner (see Figure 1). Insertion of thecassette 25 firstmoves contact shoe 52 upwardly which operates throughshaft 51 to increase the tension ofspring 49.Cassette 25 thencontacts roller 36 to moveeject lever 35 from the position shown in broken line in Figure 5 to the loaded position shown in Figure 4 in which position anedge region 54 ofsurface 38 clears the end ofspigot 40 which causeslever 41 to pivot under the influence of tensionedspring 49 to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 in which the edges ofspigot 40 andsurface 38 abut to retaineject lever 35 in the loaded position. - Ejection of the
cassette 25 is achieved by pressingbutton 46 which causes slidingsurface 44 to react onpin 43 andpivot lever 41 to liftspigot 40 out of engagement withedge 54 ofsurface 38 whereby thecassette 25 is pushed fromcarrier 30 byeject lever 35 under the influence of thespring 37. - If
cassette 25 is incorrectly oriented the location means 34 prevents acceptance by thecarrier 30 in the following manner. If it is attempted to load thecassette 25 with a sharp edge at the leading rear corner and either the planar or apertured surface uppermost, an angled barrier 55 (Figure 5) provided on thecarrier 30 prevents thecassette 25 being inserted far enough topivot eject lever 35 to the position at which spigot 40 moves into engagement withedge 54 ofsurface 38. On the other hand if it is attempted to load thecassette 25 with the apertured surface uppermost and a chamfered corner at the rear of the leading edge the contact shoe locates in the aperture and therefore remains in the broken line position shown in Figure 5 so thatextension 40a contacts the raisedend 50a oflever 50 and is therefore prevented from dropping into engagement withedge 54. - The elevator means 31 will now be described with reference to Figures 2 and 7. The elevator means 31 comprises two
bearings 56 located inbosses 57 formed on thespine 32 ofcassette carrier 30 for sliding engagement oncircular shafts 58 extending vertically from adeck plate 59 mounted insidecasing 22 onanti-vibration mounts 59a. Thecarrier 30 is biassed towards its upper illustrated position by spring means comprising twogas spring devices 60 attached between thecarrier 30 and thedeck plate 59 adjacent theshafts 58. - An inner end of an
extension 61 of operating lever 28 (see also Figure 1) is attached to one end of thewire 62 of a flexible sheathed wire cable (Bowden cable) generally indicated at 63, the other end of thewire 62 being attached to thedeck plate 59. The ends of thecable sheath 64 are attached respectively to thecase 22 adjacent the end ofextension 61 as indicated at 65 and to thecassette carrier 30 as indicated at 66. - Pivoted door 23 (see also Figure 1) is attached to the
extension 61 oflever 28 by a spring loadedrod 67. - An L-shaped
latch 68 is pivotally attached to thedeck plate 59 and is biased to a latching position by aspring 68a for engagment during a certain phase of operation with apin 69 protruding from thespine 32 ofcassette carrier 30. Thewire 70 of a flexible sheathed wire cable (Bowden cable) is attached betweenlatch 68 and the release lever 29 (see also Figure 1) and the ends of thecable sheath 71 are attached respectively to thecase 22 as indicated at 71a and to thedeck plate 59 as indicated at 71b. - The
elevator 31 is shown with thecassette carrier 30 aligned withslot 24 in a position permitting insertion of acassette 25. Once thecassette 25 has been inserted correctly as hereinbefore described, operation of the operatinglever 28 by pushing it to a position flush withcase 22 pushes thecassette carrier 30 and loadedcassette 25 down an operational position ondeck plate 59. Once in that position latch 68 engagespin 69 to securely retain thecarrier 30. It will be noted thatdoor 23 is automatically moved closed through spring loadedrod 67 as thelever 28 is moved to lower thecarrier 30 which action also has the effect of charging thegas spring devices 60. - To raise elevator means 31 the
release lever 29 is pulled to pivotlatch 68 out of engagement withpin 69 to permit thecarrier 30 to slide upwardly onguide shafts 58 under the force exerted by thegas spring devices 60. Thegas spring devices 60 provide automatic damping at the end of the upward movement ofcarrier 30 to prevent undesirable shock loads adversely affecting the mechanism. - It should be noted that
latch 68 is operatively associated with a final drive gear 101 (shown in broken outline in Figure 7 and hereinafter described in more detail), to ensure that release oflatch 68 is possible only when the cassette recorder is in a certain operational condition. - Raising the
cassette carrier 30 acts through sheathedcable 63 to pivot thelever 28 outwardly and further through therod 67 to automatically open thedoor 23 to permit removal ofcassette 25 fromcarrier 30 through theslot 24. - Figure 8 is a plan view of the
carrier 30 withcassette 25 located by elevator means 31 on thedeck plate 59. It is to be understood thatdeck plate 59 includes unillustrated features such as spool drive spindles, motors, tape guide rollers and tensioning devices which are known in the art but form no part of the present invention. The drawing shows in broken outline asupply spool 72, a take-upspool 73 and atape 74 located in thecassette 25 and routed along a path defined by fourrollers 75 which are provided in thecassette 25. - A
pinch roller 76 located on thedeck plate 59 and described in more detail hereinafter biases, in certain phases of operation, thetape 74 into contact with acapstan 77 also located on thedeck plate 59. - The cassette recorder of the illustrated embodiment uses a rotating head drum comprising a
transverse scanner 78 which writes data across the width of thetape 74, and is driven by a concentrically locatedmotor 79. To this end thetape 74 is located automatically across spaced apart guide means 80 and 81 when thecarrier 30 is moved on to thedeck plate 59. Guide means 80 and 81 are carried on loading means comprising a slidingload plate 82 which moves from an unloaded position upon engagement by thecassette 25 to a loaded position illustrated in Figure 8 in which a portion of the tape 74a is withdrawn from thecassette 25 towards therotary head scanner 78. - A solenoid operated "canoe"
guide 83 is located centrally on theload plate 82 and when "record" mode is commanded operates to shape thetape 74 and to wrap it across the surface of therotary head scanner 78 as illustrated more clearly in Figure 9. -
Load plate 82 is normally driven electrically to both its loaded and unloaded positions by an offsetpin 84 operating in a J-slot 85 through arearwardly extending arm 86 attached to the rear ofload plate 82. - Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the manner of operating the sliding
load plate 82. Thus,pin 84 is offset from the centre of arotatable plate 87 located on the deck plate 59 (see also Figure 10) for rotation about anaxis 88 by an electric motor (not shown). Initial counterclockwise rotation of theplate 87 andpin 84 through 90° from the unloaded position of Figure 11 causes no lateral movement ofplate 86 and attachedload plate 82 but serves to position other devices which do not form part of this invention. Rotation through a further 180° between 90° and 270° to the loaded position drives thearm 86 and attachedload plate 82 to the left in Figure 12 to the fully loaded position as illustrated in Figure 8. Clockwise rotation of therotatable plate 87 through 270° from the loaded position to the position shown in Figure 11 serves to withdraw theload plate 82 to its unloaded position. - The details of the construction and operation of the
load plate 82 thus far described are part of the state of the art and form no part of the present invention. - Referring now to Figures 13 and 14, the pinch roller 76 (see also Figure 8) is rotationally attached at one end of a
carrier arm 89 having its other end pivotally attached todeck plate 59 at 90. Anarm 91 located parallel to the thecarrier arm 89 and attached by spring tensioning means 92 is operatively associated with an offsetroller 93 carried on adisc 94 rotatable about anaxis 95 by an electric motor (not shown) operating through a clutch device (not shown). Areturn spring 96 is attached between thecarrier 89 anddeck plate 59. In operation, rotation of thedisc 94 aboutaxis 95 in a clockwise direction through an arc of about 120° bringsroller 93 into contact with thearm 91 to pivot thecarrier 89 against thespring 96 aboutpivot 90 to move thepinch roller 76 into contact with the surface oftape 74 in order to pinch thetape 74 between it and the capstan 77 (see also Figure 8) as illustrated in Figure 14. - Normally, withdrawal of the
pinch roller 76 to the disengaged position of Figure 13 is accomplished by counterclockwise rotation ofdisc 94 by the electric motor to disengage theroller 93 permitting thecarrier 89 andpinch roller 76 to return to the disengaged position under the influence of thespring 96. - The details of the construction and operation of the
pinch roller 76 thus far described are part of the state of the art and form no part of the present invention. - It will be clear from the above description that in the event of a loss of power to the prior art cassette recorder the
load plate 82 cannot be reverse driven from the loaded position, and thepinch roller 76 cannot be moved to the disengaged position. Consequently, in the event of a loss of power it is not possible to remove thecassette 25 which may be a requirement in some installations. - Therefore, a major objective of this invention is to provide a cassette recorder of the above described type in which it is possible to remove the
cassette 25 in the event of a loss of power without damage to the tape. More specifically, an objective is to provide means to move theload plate 82 to its unloaded position and to move thepinch roller 76 to its disengaged position in the event of a loss of power and in such a manner that normal operation is possible when power is restored. In achieving movement of theload plate 82 to the unloaded position another objective is to take up the slack tape resulting from such movement since the electrically operative spool drive motors also would not be functioning as normal. - The following description is concerned with the manner of achieving these objectives.
- Reverting now to Figure 10, the
rotatable plate 87 carrying the offsetpin 84 is attached to ashaft 97 mounted for rotation about theaxis 88 and carrying abevel gear 98 meshed with abevel gear 99 attached to ahorizontal shaft 100 extending inwardly from afinal drive gear 101. As shown in Figures 15 and 16,final drive gear 101 completes a reduction gear train comprising anintermediate gear 102 and adrive gear 103 connected to anelectric motor 104, all located externally of thedeck plate 59. -
Final drive gear 101 carries aconcentric drum 105 having acircumferential groove 106 and anchor means (not shown) for anchoring one end of acable 107 which is wound around thedrum 105 in thegroove 106.Cable 107 is routed around apulley 108 and is connected to anextension spring 109 anchored todeck plate 59 as illustrated schematically at 110 in Figures 15 and 16. - At a particular location around the circumference of the
drum 105 thecable 107 is routed over apeg 111 to increase locally the operational radius and for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter. - It should be noted that Figure 15 illustrates the components in a position corresponding to that with the load plate 82 (Figure 8) in its loaded position and with
pin 84 in the position illustrated in Figure 12, this position having been reached by counterclockwise rotation of thefinal drive gear 101 which has woundcable 107 around thedrum 105 to fully extend thespring 109. - Conceptually, then, this invention is concerned to
tension spring 109 automatically during electrically powered movement ofload plate 82 to its loaded position and to apply a holding current to hold both theload plate 82 in the loaded position and thespring 109 in tension. In the event that electrical power is lost, the holding current drops to zero and the energy inspring 109 backdrives the system by rotatingfinal drive gear 101 in a clockwise direction as indicated byarrow 127 in Figure 15 thereby rotatingpin 84 back to the position shown in Figure 11 to withdraw theload plate 82 to its unloaded position. In implementing the invention, however, many inter-related and dependent practicalities had to be addressed. - Thus, within the necessary constraints of size and available power it is beneficial to provide a
motor 104 having a high torque output in a small package and in the particular embodiment described and illustrated the best advantage in respect of torque/volume characteristics was achieved by incorporation of areduction gear train motor 104 has to be back driven by thespring 109 during unloading of theload plate 82, dictating that the gear ratio must be kept as low as possible to maintain a relatively high back drive efficiency. - In considering the characteristics of the
motor 104 therefore it was necessary to establish the torque required to drive theload plate 82 to its loaded position and to take account that themotor 104 must also tension thespring 109 during the load cycle. - The torque characteristics measured during the powered load and unload cycles for a particular cassette recorder are illustrated in Figure 17 which plots torque T against rotational angle θ of
pin 84. The figure shows that thetorque 121 during the load cycle is reasonably constant over the 270° of cam operation but thetorque 122 during the unload cycle showed a high peak in moving between 180° and 90° i.e. at mid-travel, which was due to the load required to operate other features including release of spool hub clamps. - From Figure 17 it will be clear that spring 109 (Figure 15) must have a torque characteristic capable of matching the peak during unload whilst the load torque (generated by the motor 104) will be the sum of the
load torque 122 and that required to tension thespring 109. A spring generally has a linear load characteristic and in order to cope with the peak during the unload cycle such a spring used asspring 109 without other expedients would need to have the characteristic indicated by the straightbroken line 123 in Figure 18, resulting in a very high torque load being applied by thespring 109 at the loaded position of theload plate 82, i.e. the 270° cam position, as illustrated atpoint 124. Bearing in mind that theload plate 82 is held in the loaded position during normal operation by a holding current applied to themotor 104 and that such a current is proportional to the torque it is holding, such a high holding torque load is undesirable since it could result in overheating of themotor 104. - The inventors investigated means for varying the torque applied by the
spring 109 to match it more closely to the required unload torque in order to enable use of a spring giving a lower maximum (holding) torque when fully loaded. This was achieved in the illustrated embodiment of the invention by incorporation of thepeg 111 on thedrum 105 in that segment of its operating arc corresponding to the peak in the unloadtorque 122. Thus thepeg 111 increases the radius of operation (and therefore the applied torque) through that particular segment of the arc of operation which corresponds to the peak torque load during unload. This means that the unload torque produced by thespring 109 and shown bybroken line 125 in Figure 18 more closely matches the required unloadtorque 122 and yet has a reduced maximum torque at the 270° cam position as illustrated atpoint 126 in Figure 18, thereby reducing the current required during normal operation to hold theload plate 82 in its loaded position. - The
motor 104 and load plate assembly have substantial inertia that needs to be dissipated at the unloaded position of theload plate 82 when driven to the unloaded position by thespring 109. To solve this problem, a microswitch (not shown) is attached to thedeck plate 59 and is actuated to operate over the initial rotation of the pin 84 (from 0° to 90°). The switch operates to apply a resistive load across themotor 104 with a series diode which opposes current flow when themotor 104 is energised normally to move theload plate 82 to the loaded position. During the unload movement under the influence of thespring 109 the microswitch operates when the 90° position is reached to allow reverse current to flow in the resistive load by virtue of the back emf of the load motor. This dynamically brakes themotor 104 to rest at the unloaded position of theload plate 82. - Another important requirement in any unpowered movement of the
load plate 82 to its unloaded position is to provide means for winding slack tape back into the cassette as theload plate 82 is withdrawn to its unloaded position, since the normal spool drive motors (not shown) would also be rendered non-operational in that event. - In considering this problem the inventors noted that the
drive motor 79 rotated the rotating head scanner 78 (Figures 8 and 9) at a normal operating speed of 30,000 rpm and realised, therefore, that the assembly had significant kinetic energy. They reasoned that by operating themotor 79 as a generator in the event of a loss of power, this energy might be sufficient to provide a source of usable electrical power. Tests showed that electrical power could be generated in this way and that it was adequate to operate the spool motors for a period of about five seconds and could therefore be utilised to take up the slack tape provided that the aforementioned spring powered unload of the load plate could also be implemented within that duration. - Analysis and prototype testing indicated that the spring unload system would backdrive the motor 104 (Figures 15 and 16) and move
load plate 82 to its unloaded position within three seconds. - The manner in which tape take-up is achieved will now be described with reference to the wiring diagram of Figure 19. The three phase
electrical supply 128 to thescanner drive motor 79 and theelectrical supply 112 from the servos to each of thespool drive motors supply spool 72 and take up spool 73 (Figure 8) is wired through achangeover relay 115 which as illustrated is held energised by the power supply. In the event of a loss of power,relay 115 drops out and its release contacts are connected so as to route the available electrical output from thescanner motor 79, now acting as a generator, directly to thespool drive motors slack tape 74 as theload plate 82 is withdrawn to its unloaded position. In order to generate sufficient electrical power for efficient operation it is necessary that thescanner 78 as reached its full operating speed before theload plate 82 is moved to its loaded position. - An additional useful feature of this arrangement is that the electrical current generated by the
motor 79 provides active braking of thespool motors tape 74 is in motion. - The remaining problem faced by the inventors was that of moving the
pinch roller 76 from the engaged position (Figure 14) to the disengaged position (Figure 13) in the event of a loss of power which, as hereinbefore explained, is also necessary in order to be able to remove thecassette 25 in that event and without damaging the tape. - Reverting then to Figure 13 in which the
load plate 82 is shown in its loaded position and pinchroller 76 is disengaged. Acable 116 is attached to and wrapped around the circumference of thedisc 94 and is routed through ablock 117 attached to the surface of theload plate 82. Thecable 116 passes through the free end of aleaf spring 118 and is retained in position by anend piece 119. In rotating thedisc 94 to move thepinch roller 76 to its engaged position shown in Figure 14 more of the cable is woundround disc 94 and the free end ofspring 118 is pulled into contact with an adjacent surface ofblock 117. It should be noted that engagement of thepinch roller 76 is possible only when theload plate 82 is in its loaded position. - In the event of a loss of power and the subsequent movement of the
load plate 82 under the influence ofspring 109 in the direction ofarrow 120 as hereinbefore described, theblock 117 causes a pulling force oncable 116 which rotatesdisc 94 counter-clockwise by slipping of the clutch (not shown) back to the position of Figure 13 to allow thepinch roller 76 to be moved to the disengaged position under the influence of thereturn spring 96. - It has previously been noted that inhibit means are provided to prevent operation of the latch 68 (Figures 7 and 10) until the
load plate 82 is withdrawn to the unloaded position. As shown in particular in Figures 10 and 20 this is achieved by theleg 68b of the L-shape latch 68 being prevented by an external surface of thefinal drive gear 101 from pivoting to the unlatched position shown in broken line in Figure 20 until a cut-out 101a in the circumference of thefinal drive gear 101 moves to the enabling position of Figure 20 whenload plate 82 is fully withdrawn to its unloaded position. - Thus, in operation of the cassette recorder of this embodiment of the invention, in the event of a loss of electrical power, the
load plate 82 is automatically moved to its unloaded position, theslack tape 74 is taken up by the spool motors and thepinch roller 76 is moved to the disengaged position all as hereinbefore described. Once theload plate 82 is in its unloaded position the release lever 29 (Figure 7) may be pulled to releaselatch 68 to permit the elevator means 31 to raise thecassette carrier 30 under the influence of the gas springs 60 to a position aligned with theslot 24 incase 22. A push on release knob 46 (Figures 2 and 3) releases themechanism 34 and thecassette 25 is pushed out of thecarrier 30 byeject lever 35 to protrude through theslot 24 of thecase 22 for removal by hand. - The manual loading and unloading of the
cassette 25 relative thedeck plate 59 is important for two reasons. Firstly, it clearly facilitates removal of thecassette 25 in the event of an electrical power failure and, secondly, by locating thecassette 25 on to thedeck plate 59 immediately it is loaded ensures that it is protected from damage by vibration during phases of operation that recording is not taking place. - Whilst one embodiment has been described and illustrated it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the described
cassette carrier 30 and elevator means 31 may be replaced by any suitable means for locating the cassette in its operative position on thedeck plate 59 and may be dispensed with altogether in cassette recorders in which space is available to enable manual location of thecassette 25 on thedeck plate 59. Thegas spring devices 60 can be replaced by conventional coil compression springs located on sliding central support pillars and, in such an embodiment, the desirable damping at the end of upward movement of the carrier could be achieved by any suitable damping means such as a piston located at the top of theshafts 58 for location, towards the end of movement, in a cylinder extended upwardly from thebosses 57.
Claims (9)
- A cassette recorder (21) including electrically powered loading means (82, 84, 85) movable between an unloaded position and a loaded position to withdraw tape (74) from a cassette (25) and present the tape in operational relationship to a recording head (78) characterised by a gear train (101, 102, 103) driven by an electric motor (104) for normally moving the loading means (82, 84, 85) between said loaded and unloaded positions, and a spring means (109) operatively associated with a gear (101) of said gear train so as to be loaded automatically during movement of the loading means to the loaded position whereby said spring means (109) operates in the event of a loss of electrical power to return the loading means to the unloaded position.
- A cassette recorder as claimed in Claim 1, further characterised in that said spring means (109) is loaded automatically by rotation of the gear (101) in driving the loading means to the loaded position.
- A cassette recorder as claimed in Claim 2, further characterised in that said spring means (109) is a tension spring anchored at one end (110) and attached to a cable (107) wound around the circumference of a drum (105) attached concentrically to said gear (101).
- A cassette recorder as claimed in Claim 3, further characterised in that torque varying means (111) are provided for varying torque applied by the tension spring (109) during movement of the loading means to the unloaded position by said spring means (109).
- A cassette recorder as claimed in Claim 4, further characterised in that said torque varying means comprise means (111) for increasing the operational radius of the cable (107) on the drum (105) at an appropriate location around the circumference of the drum.
- A cassette recorder as claimed in any preceding claim, further characterised in that a pinch roller (76) is mounted for pivotal movement between an engaged position in which it biases the tape (74) into contact with a capstan (77) and a disengaged position, spring means (96) biasing the pinch roller to the disengaged position, an offset roller (93) on an electrically rotatable disc (94) for moving the pinch roller to the engaged position and a cable wound around a circumference of the disc and attached to said loading means (82) whereby in the event of an electrical power failure movement of the loading means (82) to the unloaded position acts through the cable (116) to rotate the disc (94) and attached offset roller (93) and permit movement of the pinch roller (76) to the disengaged position.
- A cassette recorder as claimed in any preceding Claim, further characterised in that said recorder includes a rotatable recording device (78) driven by an electric motor (79), and electric motors (113) and (114) for driving a supply spool (72) and a take-up spool (73), a changeover relay (115) in the electrical supply to the motor (79) and held normally energised by the electrical power supply, the relay release contacts being wired so as to connect the motor (79) to the spool motors (113, 114) whereby in the event of a power failure the inertia of the recording device 78 drives the recording head motor (79) to generate electricity and rotate the spool motors (113, 114) to take up slack tape (74) as the loading means (82) moves to its unloaded position.
- A cassette recorder as claimed in any preceding Claim, further characterised in that said cassette (25) is located in a carrier (30) on manually operable elevator means (31) adapted to move the carrier vertically from an upper position at which the cassette is inserted into the carrier and a lower operational position, lock means (68, 68a, 69) for locking the carrier at said lower position, release means (29, 70, 71) for manually releasing the lock means and spring means (60) compressed automatically on lowering the carrier so as to return the carrier to the upper position when said lock means is released.
- A cassette recorder as claimed in Claim 8, further characterised in that said carrier (30) includes location means (34) adapted to prevent incorrect insertion of the cassette and ejection means (35, 36, 37) to selectively eject the cassette from the carrier.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9116265 | 1991-07-27 | ||
GB919116265A GB9116265D0 (en) | 1991-07-27 | 1991-07-27 | Cassette recorders |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0526144A2 EP0526144A2 (en) | 1993-02-03 |
EP0526144A3 EP0526144A3 (en) | 1994-09-14 |
EP0526144B1 true EP0526144B1 (en) | 1997-07-02 |
Family
ID=10699106
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP92306836A Expired - Lifetime EP0526144B1 (en) | 1991-07-27 | 1992-07-27 | Cassette recorders |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5426547A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0526144B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH05189848A (en) |
KR (1) | KR930003064A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2074588A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69220626T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9116265D0 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5883755A (en) * | 1996-10-21 | 1999-03-16 | U.S. Philips Corporation | Apparatus for storage and/or reproduction of information on/from an information carrier |
Family Cites Families (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2072918B (en) * | 1980-03-24 | 1984-02-01 | Tokyo Rokuon Kogyo Kk | Tape recorder drive |
JPS5769543A (en) * | 1980-10-14 | 1982-04-28 | Toshiba Corp | Protecting mechanism for tape recorder |
NL8402637A (en) * | 1984-08-30 | 1986-03-17 | Philips Nv | MAGNETIC BAND TAPE DEVICE WITH A SERVO DEVICE. |
DE3734606A1 (en) * | 1987-10-13 | 1989-04-27 | Blaupunkt Werke Gmbh | MECHANICAL HOLDING DEVICE FOR THE DRIVE PLATE IN A CASSETTE RECORDER |
US5075806A (en) * | 1988-02-16 | 1991-12-24 | Asahi Corporation | Tape recorder with compact cassette retainer and manually operable cassette ejector |
DE3825589A1 (en) * | 1988-07-28 | 1990-02-01 | Philips Patentverwaltung | MAGNETIC TAPE CASSETTE DEVICE WITH A DRIVE USED TO PLAY MAGNETIC TAPE CASSETTE |
KR920008486B1 (en) * | 1989-12-31 | 1992-09-30 | 삼성전자 주식회사 | Cassette loading device |
US5025333A (en) * | 1990-04-12 | 1991-06-18 | R-Byte, Inc. | Tape engagement mechanism for magnetic cassette tape |
JP3173782B2 (en) * | 1990-09-17 | 2001-06-04 | ソニー株式会社 | Slider lock mechanism in tape player |
-
1991
- 1991-07-27 GB GB919116265A patent/GB9116265D0/en active Pending
-
1992
- 1992-07-21 US US07/916,371 patent/US5426547A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-07-24 CA CA002074588A patent/CA2074588A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-07-27 EP EP92306836A patent/EP0526144B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-07-27 JP JP4199931A patent/JPH05189848A/en active Pending
- 1992-07-27 DE DE69220626T patent/DE69220626T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-07-27 KR KR1019920013417A patent/KR930003064A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69220626D1 (en) | 1997-08-07 |
GB9116265D0 (en) | 1991-09-11 |
CA2074588A1 (en) | 1993-01-28 |
EP0526144A2 (en) | 1993-02-03 |
KR930003064A (en) | 1993-02-24 |
EP0526144A3 (en) | 1994-09-14 |
JPH05189848A (en) | 1993-07-30 |
DE69220626T2 (en) | 1997-10-16 |
US5426547A (en) | 1995-06-20 |
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